Agency Details:

The Playhouse's mission is to partner with volunteers to create and deliver extraordinary theatre and education programs for communities in central Iowa through high-quality entertainment with special emphasis on issues of social significance; programs which allow for the development of individual self-expression and self-esteem; and programs which identify and encourage individuals to pursue professional theatre development.

Description:
The Des Moines Playhouse was founded in 1919 by members of the Iowa Press and Authors Club. Although the Little Theatre Movement was causing similar enterprises to spring up across the country, The Playhouse is unique in that it has operated continuously, under various names and in various homes, since its founding. With more than 85 years of uninterrupted service, The Playhouse is among the six oldest continuously-operating community theatres in the U.S. It is also the second largest community theatre in the U.S.

History:
The first paid director of The Little Theatre (The Playhouse's original name) was a woman: Josephine Hunter Ray. And the first full-time director was also a woman: Pearl Bennet Broxam in 1927.
The theatre's first permanent building was a remodeled Congregational church on 35th Street near Grand Avenue. The Belle Kendall Playhouse (The Little Theatre's new name) was made possible by a gift from former Gov. Nathan Kendall in memory of his wife.
During the depths of the Depression, The Kendall's membership dropped from 1,200 to 300. Volunteers worked in a cold box office -- the building was heated only during performances -- and they had to wear coats and boots, and carry thermoses of coffee to keep warm.
The years during World War II brought challenges such as oil shortages, a major fire and a scarcity of male actors and backstage volunteers. Nonetheless, season memberships rose to 3,000.
A new era for The Des Moines Community Playhouse (a name change) began in 1953 with a move to the Roosevelt Theatre, a "B" movie house on 42nd Street. Membership reached an all-time high of 6,000 in 1956 and two new staff positions were added; technical director and children's theatre director.
The Playhouse achieved international recognition in the 1980s and 1990s with its cultural exchange production, Peace Child, and its host status for the first-ever International Community Theatre Festival.
The Playhouse remains one of the largest subscription performing arts organization in Iowa with 4,500 members. More than 55,000 people attend an average of 12 productions each season, produced by a professional staff of 10 plus more than 1,000 volunteers. The Playhouse Education Department serves more than 14,000 people annually and consists of a year-round program of classes and camps. In addition, Playhouse programming includes a professional wing, The Iowa Touring Theatre Company.

Contact person: Lee Ann Bakros, (phone), (email)

Address:

831 42nd Des Moines, IA 50312 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.dmplayhouse.com

Last updated on July 30, 2009